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Regional Pride events continue through June and beyond

Pittsburgh and Philly are this weekend; Baltimore, New York to follow

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Baltimore Pride, gay news, Washington Blade

Baltimore Pride (Washington Blade photo by Chris Jennings)

Many jurisdictions within a few hoursā€™ driving time from Washington have Pride events planned in the coming weeks.

Apparently thereā€™s drama inĀ Pittsburgh. The Delta Foundation, the group thatā€™s been organizing Pride there since 2008, concludes its 10-day series of Pride events this weekend but several groups have siphoned off planning separate events claiming the foundation is ā€œtoo focused on cisgender white gay men,ā€ according to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburghpride.org was dead as of Blade press time.

Philadelphiaā€™s is also this weekend. TheĀ Philly Gay Pride Parade and FestivalĀ isĀ June 10 at 11 a.m.Ā It begins at 13th and Locust Street and ends at the festival location, the Great Plaza at Pennā€™s Landing. Admission to the festival is $15. For more information, visitĀ phillygaypride.org.

Baltimore PrideĀ ā€œUnited We Shine,ā€ is fromĀ June 15-17. The Pride Parade isĀ June 16 from 1-3 p.m.Ā The procession begins at N.Charles and 33rd St. and ends at N.Charles and 23rd St. Following the parade is the Block Party in Station North. The Pride Festival is onĀ June 17 from noon- 6 p.m.Ā At Druid Hill Park. The festival is kid-friendly, and features performers, exhibitors, a Drag Stage, and local food trucks. Headliners for the weekend include Miami TIP, TT the Artist, Taylor BennettĀ on Saturday, and Tish HymanĀ on Sunday. For more events and information, visitĀ baltimorepride.org.

Eastern Panhandle PrideĀ is alsoĀ June 15-17Ā in Shepherdstown, W.Va. There will be a vendor street fair onĀ June 15, as well as a Pride River Float to Harpers Ferry. The unguided, flat water float isĀ June 16 from 2-6 p.m.Ā The cost is $36 per rider. Call 304-535-2663 to book. Search for the group on Facebook for details.

Panhandle Pride (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Hampton Roads Pride, ā€œStand Up, Stand Out,ā€ isĀ June 21-30Ā in Norfolk, Va. The week starts off with the Chrysler Kick-off onĀ June 21 from 6-9 p.m.Ā At the Chrysler Museum of Art (One Memorial Place, Norfolk, Va.). The festivities culminate with the Pride Block Party at the Norfolk Scope Arena (201 E. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va.) onĀ June 29 from 7 p.m.-midnight. Tickets are $12 online beforeĀ June 25Ā and $15 at the door. OnĀ June 30, there will be a Pride boat parade atĀ noonĀ at the Norfolk waterfront, followed by the Pridefest fromĀ noon-7 p.m.Ā At Town Point Park. For more events and information, visitĀ hamptonroadspride.org.

Frederick Pride, organized by the Frederick Center, an LGBT nonprofit, isĀ June 23 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.Ā At Carroll Creek Linear Park in Frederick, Md. About 7,000 attendees are expected. There will be bands, drag, DJs and dancing. Childrenā€™s activities such as face painting will be in a special Kidā€™s Tent, as well as organized youth sports and crafts. There will be a food court and a beer and wine area. An official Pride Store will be selling Pride paraphernalia to support programs at the local LGBT community center. Although Pride is only one day, there will also be a week of activities includingĀ a silent auction party, a proclamation ceremony at City Hall, Pride film festival, a Pride interfaith ecumenical service and Pride after party. For more information, visitĀ proudout.com.

NYC Pride, ā€œDefiantly Different,ā€ isĀ June 24. Pride Island, a live music event, isĀ June 23 from 2-10 p.m.Ā and 24 fromĀ 2-11 p.m.Ā At Pier 97 Hudson River Park (57th St. and West Side Hwy., N.Y.). This yearā€™s headliners are Tove Lo, Lizzo, DJ Simon Dunmore, Big Freedia, Sasha Velour, DJ Dawson, Kylie Minogue, DJ Grind, DJ Ralphi Rosario, and DJ Corey Craig. Fireworks will close out the event.Ā PrideFestĀ isĀ June 24 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m.Ā At University Place (between 13th St. and Waverly Place, NY.). Ross Mathews is hosting and Alex Newell will perform. Parson James will perform the national anthem. For more events and information, visitĀ nycpride.org.

New York City Pride, gay news, Washington Blade

New York City Pride (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

A few more are later in the year.

Hagerstown Hopes, an LGBT nonprofit, is hosting theĀ Hagerstown Pride FestivalĀ onĀ July 14 from noon-6 p.m.Ā The theme is ā€œThis is Me.ā€ There will be live entertainment, speakers, vendors, and food. The festival is family friendly. Details on Facebook or atĀ hagerstownhopesmd.org.

TheĀ Shenandoah Valley Pride FestivalĀ isĀ Saturday, July 21, fromĀ 2-8 p.m.Ā In Court Square in Harrisonburg, Va. Details atĀ shenandoahvalleypride.org.

The 26th annualĀ Pride Festival of Central PAĀ isĀ Saturday, July 28Ā in Harrisburg, Pa. Details atĀ centralpapridefesetival.com.

VA PridefestĀ ā€œThis is Meā€ will be heldĀ Sept. 22Ā at Browns Island in Richmond, Va. Details atĀ vapride.org.

PrideFest, Richmond, Virginia, gay pride, gay news, Washington Blade

Virginia Pride (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

The 2018Ā Northern Virginia Pride FestivalĀ ā€œUnited in Prideā€ isĀ Sept. 29. Details atĀ novapride.org.

NOVA Pride (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

No information yet onĀ D.C. Youth Pride. It was held in early October in 2017 after being held in May for many years.

Youth Pride, gay news, Washington Blade

Youth Pride (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

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Theater

Talented pair of local queer actors tackles ā€˜Little Shop of Horrorsā€™

Fordā€™s production features terrific score

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Chani Wereley (Audrey) and Derrick D. Truby Jr. (Seymour) in the 2024 Fordā€™s Theatre production of Little Shop of Horrors. (Photo by Scott Suchman)

ā€˜Little Shop of Horrorsā€™Ā 
Through May 18
Fordā€™s Theatre
511 10th St., N.W.
$33-$95
Fords.orgĀ 

Ever since premiering off-Broadway in 1982, ā€œLittle Shop of Horrorsā€ has drawn a devoted following of avid audiences as well as performers eager to act in the show. Now playing at Fordā€™s Theatre, the doo-wop, dark comedy features a terrific cast including a wildly talented pair of local queer actors whoā€™ve longed to appear in the show since they were kids. 

Set in the urban 1960s, Alan Menken and Howard Ashmanā€™s hit show with a terrific score follows the wacky rise of Seymour, a nebbishy florist in a Skid Row shop who changes his fortunes by unintentionally marketing an exotic, human eating plant.  

Chani Wereley, 28, who plays Seymourā€™s love interest Audrey, a hyper femme downtowner with an edge, has had her on eye the role for years. Wereley says, ā€œAudreyā€™s been around the block more than once, but I approach her as a person who moves through the world with love and hope.ā€

The queer D.C. native adds, ā€œOn long trips to visit family in Canada or Florida, the first thing weā€™d do is pop a ā€˜Little Shop of Horrorsā€™ video [film version] into the carā€™s VHS player. Iā€™ve watched is so many times, I could quote the whole movie to you.ā€

After auditioning to play Audrey in director Kevin S. McAllisterā€™s production at Fordā€™s, Wereley never thought sheā€™d book the part, and when they said she got it, she cried.  

Similarly, Tobias A. Young, 34, the pansexual actor who voices the part of the bloodthirsty plant affectionately dubbed Audrey II, explains his intense interest in the work: ā€œI started watching the film in ā€™86. Growing up as a little gay boy in Calvert County, Md., I wanted to be blonde Audrey [played by Ellen Green in the movie]. I didnā€™t know much about musicals at the time, but I was absorbed.ā€ 

When asked by Fordā€™s to play the voracious plant Audrey II without auditioning, his reply was an unhesitant ā€œyes.ā€ 

Voicing a role requires Young to sing from backstage in a black box rigged with monitors and a mixing board. He says, ā€œpeople ask if Iā€™m singing from inside of the ever-growing, scary plant. No, Iā€™m not, and thatā€™s fine. But letā€™s face it, actors love to be seen on stage, but I donā€™t feel entirely unseen as Audrey II.ā€

Heā€™s worked hard and successfully with formidable puppeteers Ryan Sellers and Jay Frisby to bring parts of himself to the carnivorous plant ā€” his sassiness, own movements, and even a tilt of his head; their efforts have drawn the actual Young into the show. 

Both Wereley and Young possess gorgeous, emotive voices as evidenced by Wereleyā€™s striking rendition of Audreyā€™s ā€œSuddenly Seymour,ā€ and Youngā€™s soulful ā€œFeed Me (Git It).ā€ Additionally, both actors are also big on queer representation in theater. 

When her young pals were listening to Britney Spears, Wereley was dancing to retro tunes like ā€œMashed Potato Time,ā€ and her favorite song to this day, the Shirelleā€™s girl group anthem ā€œWill You Still Love Me Tomorrow.ā€ As Audrey, Wereley eschews the characterā€™s usual platinum hair for a bouncy brunette, cherry-streaked wig, tight pencil skirts, swing coats, and her very own half-sleeve tattoo. 

ā€œItā€™s important for people to see themselves on stage,ā€ she says. ā€œSeeing me or someone like me is inherently interesting. Being that person on Instagram or with the institution, cast, or audiences is meaningful. Itā€™s important.ā€

In 2011, a couple years after finishing high school, Young landed a part in ā€œDream Girlsā€ at Tobyā€™s Dinner Theatre, and heā€™s been working professionally ever since. Growing up, he didnā€™t see a lot of himself ā€“ Black and queer ā€“ on social media. He now wants to be open and honest for those out there who might not feel seen, he says

An introvert who lets everything loose on the stage, Young says, ā€œtheater is a safe space for queer people. Thatā€™s the first place we feel safe, particularly in school. And this is why we need theaters in schools, now more than ever.ā€

He adds, ā€œWhatā€™s great about Fordā€™s is its surprises, especially when they switch up casting. Itā€™s meaningful to see the shows you love, but why not see them with a twist? Using unexpected actors and incorporating queer people just makes it that much better.ā€

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Nightlife

D.C.ā€™s gay DJ collective CTRL returns

Electropop group resurfaces at Trade on March 30

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CTRL is back after a six-year absence.

Finger lasers, confetti cannons, drag shows, photo booths, throwback tunes, and a touch nerdy: after a long break, D.C.ā€™s gay DJ collective CTRL is throwing its first party in six years.

Born in an Eritrean restaurant more than a decade ago, this longstanding gay nightlife electropop group is resurfacing with a comeback event at Trade on March 30.

Gay DJs Adam Koussari-Amin, Jeff Prior, Devon Trotter, and Brett Andreisen hosted the first CTRL party at now-closed restaurant Dahlak, on the corner of 18th and U Streets. After a year of hosting pop-ups in that restaurantā€™s dining room, they upgraded down 18th Street to now-closed gay club Cobalt. There, the parties grew: drag shows, a pop-up photo booth from David Claypool, and quirky activations like throwing hot dogs into print-outs of Putinā€™s mouth. Their productions grew as well, like producing the now-defunct Brightest Young Gays (BYG) Pride events at Wonderbread Factory and Union Market and the ā€˜Get Wetā€™ pool party with David Brownā€™s Otter Crossing at the Capitol Skyline Hotel.

CTRL wasnā€™t done. The group received its biggest stage yet after a call from Ed Bailey, the owner of now-closed gay club Town, as well as current gay bars Number 9 and Trade. At Town, the opportunity ā€œallowed our creativity to flourish with even bigger performances, bigger photo experiences, crazier hand-outs, and the same electropop dance vibes our fans had come to know us for,ā€ says Koussari-Amin.

CTRL pressed pause when Town shut down, which ā€œwas a huge loss to the LGBTQIA+ community and D.C. nightlife in general,ā€ says Koussari-Amin. After that, it hosted an occasional spinoff called QWERTY. Post-pandemic, Koussari-Amin has spent a few nights solo as DJ at Trade and other venues.

After connecting with Jesse Jackson, the Trade general manager, as well as with Bailey, who agreed to host the inaugural event, Koussari-Amin was determined to shift CTRL back to life.

However, getting the old band back together proved to be a challenge. While the rest of the group have either left Washington, D.C., or are pursuing other projects, Koussari-Amin received their blessing to stay on and find new members. 

ā€œWhen it came to finding new partners, both DJ Dez [Desmond Jordan] and DJ Lemz [Steve Lemmerman] were obvious choices,ā€ he says, noting that ā€œthey also have distinct styles and interests.ā€ Dez has a residency at Pitchers and Kiki as well as pop-ups, and Lemz throws events like Sleaze and BENT.

 ā€œIt seemed important to come back to the nightlife table with an experience that could complement all the amazing experiences that have even built up since CTRL threw its last event at Town. Bringing back both the DJ collective and the CTRL event with Dez and Lemz means new voices, perspectives, sounds, and excitement.ā€

ā€œCTRL is an opportunity for the community to come together, enjoy music, drinks, and good vibes,ā€ adds Jordan, noting that for him, itā€™s an event that celebrates queer identity.

And after months of planning, CTRL will kick off its monthly party series at Trade on March 30 for the first gig after its glow-up.

The trio says that its core inspiration ā€œis driven by the indie and electropop favorites of new and old, like Goldfrapp, Ava Max, Charli XCX, ā€¦ We’re also all huge fans of slut and trash pop music like Kim Petras, Slayyyter, Cupcakke,ā€ as well as pop diva remixes, new bops, and songs that reside inside and far beyond the expanse of Top 40.

CTRL is also bringing back its activations that complement the tunes. Summer Camp is set for drag performances, David Claypool is back with his photo booth, and Koussari-Amin promises ā€œto have all sorts of weird and wacky handouts like we used to.ā€

After the March premiere, Aprilā€™s party is ā€œCTRLellaā€, a Coachella send-up. Future events will feature various different themes, and they plan to throw a party during Capital Pride; theyā€™re also looking to be a central part of Tradeā€™s expansion into the adjacent space.

 Koussari-Amin says that ā€œthe eventā€™s signature experience [is] a lynchpin in connecting D.C.ā€™s expanding generations of queer folks, giving everyone a safe space to let loose and feel a rush no matter who they are.ā€ 

For his part, Bailey continues to support CTRL and its collective intention, expressing its essential nature as a party for partiers by partiers. ā€œCTRL is the kind of party that represents what people want. Itā€™s just a real party by real people that just want to hear good music and dance with their friends.ā€

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Celebrity News

HRC releases ā€˜Queer Renaissance Syllabusā€™

BeyoncĆ©ā€™s hit album inspired curriculum

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BeyoncƩ performs at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., on Aug. 6, 2023. The Human Rights Campaign has released a curriculum that her "Renaissance" album inspired. (Washington Blade photo by Isabelle Kravis)

In a move aimed at celebrating the beauty, brilliance and resilience of the LGBTQ community, the Human Rights Campaign unveiled the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” that BeyoncĆ©ā€™s ā€œRenaissanceā€ album inspired. 

Curated by Justin Calhoun, Leslie Hall and Chauna Lawson of the HRC’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, the syllabus includes a variety of academic articles, essays, films and other media rooted in Black queer and feminist studies. Each piece is directly inspired by the tracks on BeyoncĆ©’s Billboard 200-topping dance album, “Renaissance.”

BeyoncĆ©’s album “Renaissance” stands as a cultural milestone, celebrating the Black queer roots of dance music while shedding light on overlooked Black queer artists. Inspired by her late-Uncle Johnny, the album not only garnered critical acclaim but also shed light on the often marginalized contributions of Black queer artists. Winning four Grammys and yielding chart-topping hits like ā€œBreak My Soulā€ and ā€œCuff It,ā€ the album sparked discussions about economic impact and cultural representation.

Amid its success, legislative challenges arose, with Florida and Texas enacting bans on DEI initiatives in public colleges. Recognizing the album’s transformative potential, HRC developed the “Queer Renaissance Syllabus” to leverage its impact for education and activism.

Tailored for educators, youth-serving professionals, DEI practitioners, higher education leaders and admirers of BeyoncĆ©’s artistry, the syllabus aims to encourage meaningful discussions, enrich lesson plans, and explore innovative ways to honor the vibrancy and significance of LGBTQ individuals and their culture.

With six themes anchoring the syllabus, ranging from “intersectionality and inclusivity” to “social justice and activism,” it provides a comprehensive exploration of various facets of LGBTQ experiences and expressions. Fan-favorite tracks from the album are paired with scholarly readings, offering insights into empowerment, self-acceptance and the transformative power of artistic expression. The syllabus also reinforces HRCā€™s efforts to highlight, amplify and re-center Black and queer voices.

By providing links to articles, books, podcasts and interviews, each associated with a song from the album, it celebrates the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Black queer community.

The concluding section of the syllabus includes BeyoncĆ©’s tribute to Oā€™Shea Sibley, a young Black queer person who was murdered in Brooklyn, N.Y., last July while voguing to ā€œRenaissanceā€ songs at a gas station. HRC also includes a statement that condemns hate crimes.

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